3 men facing charges in Lima post office burglary

LIMA — Three men facing charges in connection with the burglary at the main post office in downtown Lima waived preliminary hearings this week.

The cases against Shawn Severt, 27, of Celina, Cole Cotter, 21, of Lima, and Austin Trenkamp, 20, of Lima, were sent to a grand jury Tuesday for consideration. The earliest the grand jury likely would meet to consider this case would be in July.

The three have been charged with burglary but could face additional charges. Two of the men, Severt and Trenkamp, left their fingerprints behind at the post office, helping police find them, said Lima Police Sgt. Paula Strickler.

The men already were in jail in connection with a home burglary when police began investigating the post office burglary, Strickler said.

The post office burglary happened between 10:30 p.m. June 7 and 4:00 a.m. June 8. Strickler did not have information available as to whether the men stole anything during the break in.

A crime scene officer lifted two different prints from the post office that matched Severt and Trenkamp. A detective interviewed the men and they confessed to the burglary, she said.

While a crime at the post office can go through federal court this one will stay in state court because Lima Police Department handled the investigation, Strickler said.